Mumbai: Restaurants, bars, retailers and traders ask for extended working hours as per unlock level 2

MUMBAI: Restaurants, bars and retailers in Mumbai have expressed displeasure over government decision to allow them to operate with level 3 deadline of 4pm (that includes full closure on weekends) when city has already reached level 2 in terms of weekly covid positivity rate.
Level 2 cities such as Thane, Navi Mumbai and Pune have resto bars operating till 11pm even on weekends.In level 2 malls and theatres can also operate with 50% capacity with normal closing hours. In level 3, however, malls and theatres are not allowed to operate at all.
Continuing with opening and closure of establishments as per level 3 is causing widespread confusion among traders and hotel owners. Also the move to determine locking and unlock on the basis of weekly positivity rate (WPR) has caused unrest among the traders who are not sure whether they will be allowed to operate in the next week or even call their staff frequently depending upon the levels. Now, even officials are also suggesting to consider biweekly positivity rate to avoid confusion and ensure smooth management of staff and services in all establishments.
“We are highly disappointed with the decision on continuing with restrictions meant for Level 3 after the City has moved to Level 2. Restaurants and bars in Mumbai were looking forward to re-opening of businesses once the city moves to the next level but such decisions are destabilizing things around and makes mockery of the whole system and procedures announced by the administration. We sincerely request the BMC to reconsider their decision and allow us to function with the applicable 50% capacity under Level 2 as further delays are just adding to the debts & losses the industry has been facing," said Shivanand Shetty, President, AHAR, Association of Hotels and Restaurants in his letter to BMC commissioner Iqbal Chahal.
"In Mumbai positivity is going down and bed occupancy is also reducing and as per Maharashtra government guidelines it’s eligible for Level 2 relaxation but MCGM has taken a view not to relax the same for some reason. We appreciate MCGM has been cautious in relaxation looking at size of population and congestion of Mumbai city.
However as we all know Mumbai has highest taxes , overheads, rents salary and looking at all this Mumbai should have been given relaxation in opening as per Maharashtra guidelines.
"Why Mumbai traders, mall/ theater operators should only suffer? It’s heartening to know that neighbouring cities and other major cities are now level 2 and have more relaxation compare to Mumbai Least MCGM should do is to increase timing to two hours extra and relax weekend lockdown," said Viren Shah, president of federation of retail traders welfare association (FRTWA) in his letter to CM Uddhav Thackeray.
“It is unfair that despite Mumbai fulfilling the criteria for level 2 unlock, we are being expected to continue operating at level 3 restrictions. 80 per cent of a restaurant’s business happens in the evening hours and on weekends but we are not allowed to operate during these prime hours. Keeping a restaurant open only in the day translates to more expense than revenue. Additionally, the Govt. has turned down our request for discounting fees due to lockdown or paying the excise license fee in installments although the Hon'ble High Court has given interim relief of 50 per cent payment. We are expected to pay the Excise and other license fees for the entire year when the Government itself is not allowing us to open for business. We are on the horns of a dilemma. It is commercially unviable to keep businesses open only till 4PM as it only adds up to our losses. On the other hand, now restauranteurs are eager to earn their livelihood. Restaurants are safe as we follow the stringent guidelines by FSSAI, State Govt and Central Govt. We request the CM and the BMC to save restaurants and bars from this danger and allow us to operate till at least 11PM,” said Sherry Bhatia, President, Hotel and Restaurant Association of Western India (HRAWI).